Chestnuthill looks at crime watch in the West End

BRODHEADSVILLE — Crime is on the rise in the West End, and citizens need to be ready to do something about it, according to the organizers of the Chestnuthill Crime Watch.

ADAM McNAUGHTON

BRODHEADSVILLE — Crime is on the rise in the West End, and citizens need to be ready to do something about it, according to the organizers of the Chestnuthill Crime Watch.

Fears over thin police coverage, perceived rising crime rates and dangers in the West End brought residents together to discuss ways to protect themselves Wednesday night.

More than 30 concerned residents attended a meeting of the crime watch at the Chestnuthill Park building on Route 715 to expose crime problems in the West End and how citizens can combat them.

"The best crime prevention device around is a good neighbor," said Teri Van Britsom, crime watch organizer. "There is a perception of an increase in crime, and there's been a lot of attention recently because, obviously, a couple of dead bodies along Hypsie Gap Road."

On Tuesday, Fritz Gerald Dejoie Jr. was charged with murdering 47-year-old Steven Santillo on Hypsie Gap Road in Chestnuthill Township, seven months after the body of Lee Van Luvender was found a little more than a mile away on the same road. Van Luvender's killer is still at large.

The goal of the Chestnuthill Crime Watch is now to identify volunteers willing to take an active role in organizing and taking part in efforts to document crimes in the West End, organizers said.

"I think the next step would be, How many people are willing to be more eyes?" said Dave Fleetwood, a Chestnuthill supervisor who attended the meeting.

"To me, you could have a cop stationed on every corner in this township and you're not going to stop every crime," he said. "More eyes have to do something."

Residents were given information at the meeting on how to protect their homes, document crimes to help police investigations and submit an application for a license to carry firearms.

"These papers are available," Van Britsom said holding the gun permits. "If you decide that you want to carry a gun, you can do that."

West End residents at the meeting decried the lack of police coverage in the West End, saying state police are stretched too thin to properly patrol.

"Most of the time, the vast majority of the state police calls are to accidents," Van Britsom said. "They have to serve Interstate 80. There are not enough of them to go around. These guys are hung out to dry, they don't have what they need."

The possibility of forming a local police force was brought up as a way to help the crime watch, but township officials pointed out the high price tag.

Chestnuthill Supervisor Chairman Chuck Gould said the tax burden for local police coverage could cost around $100 per $100,000 on a home's value.

At least $1 million a year is the number typically floated.

For now residents at the meeting say they will have to join within their communities to document and deter crime.

"I don't like the 'I feel powerless' thing," Van Britsom said. "I like to do something."